At Artifcts, we've seen this question come up again and again—and we understand why.
Today, there are more than 150 publicly Artifcted cards and letters on Artifcts.com, each preserving a story, a relationship, or a moment in time. Our Co-Founder, Heather, has also privately Artifcted more than three dozen cards and letters from her own life (and still has a couple dozen more to go!).
We hear you, and you are not alone. Cards and letters are sneaky. They don't take up much space individually, but together they can fill boxes, bins, closets, and entire storage shelves. Unlike many other possessions, they're full of sentiment, emotion, and something increasingly rare, handwriting. We want to keep them because they connect us to people and moments that mattered.
But then life happens. The bins overflow. The storage area fills up. Years pass, sometimes decades. And despite keeping every birthday card, holiday greeting, love note, sympathy card, or handwritten letter, we rarely pull them out to read them again.
So...what should you do with them?
Start with a Different Question
Instead of asking, "Should I keep this card?" ask yourself:
"What am I really trying to preserve?"
Most of the time, it's not the paper itself. It's your grandmother's unmistakable cursive. It's the note your child scribbled before they learned to spell. It's the anniversary card that reminds you exactly how you felt in that moment in time. It's the laugh-out-loud birthday card from a friend who always knew how to make you smile.
Often, the physical card is simply the vessel that carries the memory forward, lest we forget.
You Don't Have to Keep Every Piece of Paper
Many people feel guilty even considering letting go of cards and letters. It can feel like discarding the relationship itself. But preserving memories doesn't have to mean storing every card, letter, note, or envelope forever.
As you sort through your collection, consider categories like:
- Cards that mark major life milestones.
- Letters from people who have shaped your life.
- Notes that tell a meaningful story.
- Cards with especially memorable handwriting or artwork.
- Messages that still make you smile, laugh, or cry.
These are often the pieces worth preserving—not because they're old, but because they continue to have meaning and someday someone else in your family may be curious enough to want to see them or even keep them as part of their family history too.
Preserve the Memory, Reduce the Clutter
Whether you're downsizing, helping parents organize decades of keepsakes, or simply reclaiming space at home, preserving the stories first makes it much easier to decide what to do with the physical items afterward. By photographing or scanning meaningful cards and letters and pairing them with your own memories, you create an archive that's easier to revisit than a stack of bins tucked away in the attic.
Here's an easy way to get started:
- Choose the cards and letters that matter most. Start with a small group—perhaps birthday cards from your parents, letters from a grandparent, love notes, or cards that commemorate major milestones.
- Photograph or scan each piece. Capture the front, inside message, back, and envelope if it adds context. Don't worry about perfection; your goal is to preserve the memory.
- Add the images to an Artifct and tell the story behind them. Who wrote it? What was happening in your life? Why has this particular note stayed with you all these years? Those details transform a simple card into part of your personal history.
Once you've preserved both the images and the story, you'll find it much easier to decide whether the physical card belongs in a keepsake box, should be passed on to family, or can finally be recycled.
Less Clutter. More Memories.
Cards and letters were never meant to spend decades hidden in storage bins. They were written to be read, remembered, and cherished. That's exactly what Artifcts helps you do.
Artifct your cards and letters to create a fully accessible, shareable archive of the notes, sweet sentiments, heartfelt messages, and laugh-out-loud moments that matter most. Add the stories behind them, preserve the handwriting, and revisit them anytime, from anywhere.
Because the goal isn't to keep every piece of paper. It's to keep the memories. Happy Artifcting!
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Looking for additional tips on how to Artifct cards, letters, and other ephemera? Check out our How to Artifcts Cards & Letters article to help you get started.
© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The time I packed two Matchbox cars and 60 pounds of rocks for a 10+ hours flight. Artifcted. 
